The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1887-12-16
DHPAnTMENT on JUsTIcE.
Many Reforms Recommended "a Eatioaal
Penilentlaiy

Many Reforms Recommended Natioaai
Penitentiaiy
WAsHISGToS, Dec. 6.--The annual re.
port OF Attorney.Ge General Garland gives
a full account Of the business OF the de.
partment during the fiscal year The
number OF ordinary suits now pending in
the court OF claims Is ITO, involving the
sum Of tl3.250.00O. The number OF
cases tiled under the Bowman act il 1910
involving about t50.O00,o00. Petitions
tiled in the French spolia,ion eases mum.
ber $500, representing 24s9 vessels and
about $50, ,O00.0OO.
During the fiscal year l777 civil suits
were terminated; 90 judgments were
for defendants, 70S were dismissed, -
were appealed 10 the circuit court, aud
"a TO the supreme court. During the
year there we're Is, ,007 criminal prosecu-
tions, mostly for violations OF the Gus.
toms aud internal revenue laws.
The encouragement calls attention 10
the suggestions and recommendation
made in his last annual report in regard
to matters calling for remedial legisla.
tion. and again urges the necessity OF i'm
mediate action thereon. These subjects
are as follows: Fees Of mArshals in ter
ritories; pay Of deputy marshals in ter
ritories. pay Of deputy marshals. revision
Of the fee bill, substitution OF the fiscal
for the calendar year, protection 10 civil
officers and witnesses, fees Of witnesses
and jurors, and criminal procedure, per.
jury and. jariesin tho District OF Colum-
bia. In regard to the confinement and
and treatment Of United States prisoners
the attorney general says he is more
than ever convinced Of the absolute
need OF a government penitentiary and
reformatory. lie also calls attention TO
the necessity for additional legislation
for restoring and preserving court
records, and makes an urgent appeal in
behalf Of certain changes in the judi.
ciai system OF the country.
The encouragement urges an appro.
priation for the erection, on ground ada.
cent to the depapiment Of justice, OF a
suitable building for the accommodation
OF the supreme court and other courts
and commissioners Of the United States.
He also asks that congress provide for
furnishing portraits Of the judges Of the
supreme court to adorn the chambers OF
that court. Attention is also invited to
the necessity OF extending the iurisdic-
ton Of the federal courts TO crimes com
mitted upon American vessels navigat-
ing the great lakes. Congress Is urged
10 take some action for settlement OF out
standing claims OF witnesses and jurors
for services during aud prior 10 the year
1885.
NO PASSES FOR U. 8. NARsHALs.
The attorney-general says increased
expenses in the service OF process has
been the experience of the department
since the passage Of the interstate com.
merce bill. Prior 10 the passage OF that
bill marshals were furnished with free
transportation over the various lines oil
railways, while in the service OF process.
Since that date, however, no free trans.
portatioL is furnished, and the railways
charge a mileage greater than the fees
allowed the marshal for his travel in
such service.
The encouragement in closing his re-
port devotes chapter TO consideration
Of the French spoliation act. lie says;
FThe difficulty Of the questions involved
suggests the necessity Of v.gilant, ex.
haustive judicial investigation. / there
fore recommend the passage Of an act
amending the act of January 30, 1885,
which shall confer authority upon the
court Of claims to render judgment IN
cases provided for by the act, instead OF
reporting their conclusions to congress,
as now required to do, and to grant either
party, government or claimant, the right
Of appeal to the supreme court of the
| United States. From the decision OF the
court OF claims on suit filed under the
act Of 1885 it is not probable that either
government or claimant will find it neces-
sary to resort 10 appeals IN more than q
few cases, but as the Law stands new no
appeal can be taksa by either party.